Chris Sale and the Red Sox are -142 favorites in Game 1 of the 2018 World Series against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers (+128).This is the first time Kershaw has been an underdog in more than six calendar years.Both southpaws have something to prove as their postseason numbers are nowhere close to their elite regular-season stats.Game 1 of the 2018 World Series is shaping up to be a classic on paper. Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale Justin Verlander Jersey , two of the best pitchers in the game, hope to quiet any doubters questioning their postseason abilities.Kershaw has a long track record of underwhelming performances in the playoffs, posting just a 4.03 ERA in 141 innings compared to his eye-popping 2.39 ERA in the regular season.Red Sox-Dodgers 2018 World Series OddsRead nowSale, on the other hand, has a 5.85 ERA in just 20 playoff innings, including an all-around ugly start in Game 1 of the ALCS in which he walked four batters in four innings.He was hospitalized afterwards with what turned out to be an infection due to a belly button ring …To each his own, I guess.Here are the betting odds for Game 1 of the 2018 World Series:Red Sox (-142), Dodgers (+128)Over/under: 7.5>> All odds as of 7:45 p.m. ET. Download The Action Network App to get real-time MLB odds and track your betsCommon sense tells us that Kershaw is not often an underdog, but Bet Labs reveals that he hasn’t been a pooch since July 24, 2012. The Dodgers closed at +127 on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals with Adam Wainwright on the mound.Including the postseason, this will be the 34th time in his career that Kershaw is a dog compared to 305 games as a favorite.The southpaw has gone 17-16 in his 33 starts as a dog for +3.7 units.Will bettors jump on the opportunity to take Kershaw at a plus-money payout or will they lay the cash and go with Sale at home? PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) — As workouts began to wind down Houston Astros Jersey , word began spreading across the San Diego Padres‘ practice fields at Peoria Sports Complex.The Padres, a team stuck in a 12-year playoff-less rut, were on the verge of making their biggest free agent splash ever.Manny Machado, the big-hitting, slick-fielding infielder, was going to be paid $300 million to play for the Padres for the next decade.The news Tuesday put noticeable pep in the players’ step for the remainder of the workouts.“There was definitely a buzz yesterday in the practice,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said Wednesday. “Toward the last couple drills, the rumors were getting a little more true that Manny was likely coming here. The buzz is here and everyone is excited.”The buzz continued Wednesday as the Padres waited for the deal to finalize and Machado to arrive in the desert, which could come as early as Friday.The Padres agreed with Machado on a $300 million, 10-year deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical and had not been announced.The second-largest deal in baseball history signified a significant shift in direction for the Padres.San Diego lost 96 games last year and hasn’t had a winning season since 2010. This season looked like it would be another in what seemed like a never ending string of rebuilding seasons.Machado’s deal changes expectations. The goal of winning was no longer something three, four years down the road. The Padres want to win now.San Diego made a bit of a splash last season http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , signing first baseman Eric Hosmer to a $144 million, eight-year deal.Adding Machado locks down the corners of the Padres’ infield at least through the next five years, when Machado can opt out of his contract and become a free agent again.“What we’ve talked about is if the right guys are out there, guys we feel are a fit in a long-term plan, we want to build it as we get going and add the right piece at the right time,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said. “You can wait for some of the young talent we’ve built up and maybe in three or four years try to get the right guys who are out there at that time, but we feel as a group the pieces that fit short term, long term are out there and that’s how you build a club.”The upgrades at the corners, along with the young talent already on the roster, have excited a long-suffering Padres fan base that’s never experienced a World Series title nor seen a playoff series victory since the 1998 NLCS win over Atlanta.Machado gives San Diego one of baseball’s best players still in his prime.The 26-year-old is a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner. He’s a career .282 hitter with 175 homers and 513 RBIs in seven big league seasons.Machado hit .297 and set career bests with 37 homers and 107 RBIs last season with the Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers.Even if San Diego’s brass couldn’t talk about the deal because it wasn’t finalized, Padres players couldn’t contain their excitement.“It’s going to be very special,” said shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. Hector Rondon Jersey , who is listed as the No. 2 prospect in baseball. “He’s an awesome guy, a great player and will be a great teammate.”Machado’s addition strengthens San Diego’s foundation for the future, particularly in the infield.Hosmer had an underwhelming first season with the Padres, but two years ago hit .318 with 25 homers and 94 RBIs with the Kansas City Royals.Tatis, son of a former major league player, is considered San Diego’s shortstop of the future, though he has played just 2 1/2 months above A-ball. His major league debut will likely come this season and he could even crack the opening day roster with a stellar spring.Rookie Luis Urias, who was called up last season, could be the starting shortstop if Tatis opens in Triple-A and the Padres added veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler in the offseason.“We came into this year hungry to win,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “That message was there before any news leaked yesterday and is going to be there the rest of the season.”That leaked news should only strengthen Green’s message.